MJD Oilfield, NCDMB, Renaissance Launch 12-Month Pipeline Engineering Training for 33 Graduates
MJD Oilfield Services Ltd., a prominent indigenous oil and gas construction and servicing company, has officially initiated a comprehensive 12-month Nigerian Content Human Capital Development (NC-HCD) training programme. This initiative is conducted in strategic partnership with the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) and Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited. The programme is specifically designed to equip 33 Nigerian graduates from engineering and related disciplines with advanced technical competencies in critical areas such as pipeline pigging, corrosion control, and integrity monitoring.
Programme Structure and Objectives
The intensive, year-long training integrates both theoretical instruction and hands-on practical experience, aiming to develop highly skilled and industry-ready professionals. These individuals are expected to contribute meaningfully to Nigeria's energy infrastructure, thereby strengthening local capacity within the oil and gas sector. The curriculum, presented by the technical training partner DORET Limited, aligns with the NCDMB Human Capital Development Implementation Guidelines (2020) and the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act.
Key Statements from Officials
At the official kick-off ceremony in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Engr. Olayemi Familusi, Managing Director of MJD Oilfield Services Ltd., emphasized the programme's significance. He urged participants to fully leverage this opportunity and commended NCDMB for its sustained contributions to the industry's growth. He stated, "We commend the Board for its unwavering commitment to the advancement of Nigerian talent and the industry at large. Beneficiaries are encouraged to apply these acquired skills within the country, where opportunities for growth and impact continue to expand."
Mrs. Tarilate Bribena-Teide, Manager of Human Capital Development at NCDMB, represented the Executive Secretary, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, and described the initiative as a strategic investment in Nigeria's energy security. She highlighted the critical importance of pipeline integrity expertise, particularly for national assets like the 614-kilometre Ajaokuta–Kaduna–Kano (AKK) Gas Pipeline. She underscored strict expectations, noting a mandatory minimum attendance rate of 99.9% and warning that any participant showing lack of commitment would be replaced.
Support and Benefits for Participants
To ensure full engagement, the programme provides comprehensive support, including monthly stipends, meal allowances, mobilization and demobilization allowances, learning resources such as laptops and Personal Protective Equipment, health insurance coverage, and both local and international certifications upon successful completion. This holistic approach aims to facilitate a smooth transition for young graduates into the oil and gas industry, reinforcing Nigeria's capacity to meet complex technical demands with locally developed expertise.
Broader Industry Context
Engr. Funso Alabi, representing Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited, and Chief Austin Ugboaja, Project Manager at MJD Oilfield Services Ltd., reaffirmed the importance of strategic collaboration in developing a competent workforce. This workforce is crucial for sustaining the long-term reliability and efficiency of Nigeria's energy infrastructure. In a related development, NCDMB has also launched a major Oil & Gas Field Readiness Training Programme aimed at equipping 10,000 Nigerian youths with technical and professional skills for employment in the expanding industry, prioritizing young graduates, technicians, and professionals.
